IPFW Honors life-saving hero

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - He helped save another man's life on campus. For that, IPFW Chancellor Mike Wartell wanted to honor one of his students Wednesday with a luncheon. IPFW Senior Travis Barnes works at the Gates Sports Center. On August 7, while working, he administered an Automatic Electronic Defibrillator to a basketball player who'd collapsed during a game and had stopped breathing.

That player was 44-year old Ken Solter, a local father of three.

"The only thing I remember is seeing nothing but gray and dropping to the ground," said Solter. "After that I was trying to get up and it seemed like everything was pulling me back down."

Barnes, 26, attributes his quick thinking to his training with the United State Marines, as well as additional CPR training from IPFW. He says he simply reacted.

"All those guys were there," said Barnes, referring to Solter teammates that morning. "Everybody did what they were supposed to do and under the circumstances, everyone reacted perfectly."

Barnes is studying Political Science at IPFW. He left the school for the Marines in 2001. Since then he served three tours in Iraq, and found his way back to school at IPFW. He will graduate next Spring.

Solter said he didn't really know how to thank Barnes for his grace under fire.

"I mean, what do you do, offer him a gift card?" Solter said, laughing. "Thank you just doesn't seem to be enough. I'm very lucky to be here and I'm very thankful for everything [Barnes] and everyone else did for me."

Solter, an avid runner, is on the road to recovery. He has had a pace maker/defibrulator placed in his chest. He said a lack of fluids and low levels of magnesium and potassium are what lead to his collapse.

Wartell also honored the emergency responders and campus police that helped out during Solter's episode.